RIP Nello Ferrara

February 8, 2012 2:20 PM

Nello Ferrara, chairman of Ferrara Pan Candy Co (previously), died Friday at his home in River Forest at age 93. The Chicago Sun Times has an excellent obituary profiling his rather interesting life.
posted by hippybear (30 comments total)

.
posted by Iridic at 2:20 PM on February 8

Mr. Ferrara came up with the idea of spicy-hot Atomic FireBalls in 1954, after serving in Occupied Japan in the post-atom bomb era, according to his son...

What.
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:25 PM on February 8

.
posted by me3dia at 2:28 PM on February 8

I just finished off the last of a jar of Atomic Fireballs this weekend. I guess I need to stop on the way home.

Godspeed Nello, and your white shoes too...
posted by pupdog at 2:33 PM on February 8

Chicago landmark
posted by goethean at 2:34 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Best Candy Ever. Thank you, sweets man.

.
posted by Aquaman at 2:38 PM on February 8

candy-coated almonds known as “confetti”

I always wondered about candy coated almonds at weddings, they are only vaguely edible.

Turns out they have a long history
posted by Ad hominem at 2:40 PM on February 8

So long, Mr. Ferrara, and thanks for all the Lemonheads and Atomic Fireballs.
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:41 PM on February 8

In the name of Alexander The Grape, Godspeed, sir
posted by jonmc at 2:41 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]

It's a shame about Ray Nello.
posted by tommasz at 2:42 PM on February 8 [3 favorites]

>O<

(Okay that's supposed to be a piece of candy. RIP, man.)
posted by resurrexit at 2:42 PM on February 8

Red Hots in Peace.
posted by cyndigo at 2:46 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]

“He guided Ferrara Pan Candy Company through good times and bad and helped candy makers of all stripes whenever asked,” said Patrick J. Huffman of Warrell Corp., a candy contractor.

That's rich.
I always enjoy the weird industrially-sweet smell whenever driving past the factory on I-290.
posted by obscurator at 2:53 PM on February 8

I'm a Grapeheads man myself, absolutely love them. Neat guy.
posted by Cosine at 3:03 PM on February 8

I love that the Ferrara Pan candies' package design changed so little over the years. They're different now, but I remember how long they seemed so anachronistic. Like this Fireballs design, and this Lemonheads package. Those designs didn't change for decades.

Their point of sale displays were pretty memorable too. Mmmmm, yummy mushroom cloud of death.

Fellow flatlanders, am I making this up, or did they have a Lemonheads animated neon sign somewhere you could see from the Eisenhower, like maybe back in the Seventies? I can see it in my head but I wonder if I manufactured that memory.

Arrivederci amico.
posted by Toekneesan at 3:04 PM on February 8 [2 favorites]

Sure you're not thinking of the Magikist Sign?
posted by JoeZydeco at 3:13 PM on February 8

I will go home tonight and crunch through a box of Jawbusters in his honor.
posted by Blue Meanie at 3:14 PM on February 8

Aw. the best Cheap Candy Evar. Rest Well Candyman.
.
posted by djrock3k at 3:41 PM on February 8

Fellow flatlanders, am I making this up, or did they have a Lemonheads animated neon sign somewhere you could see from the Eisenhower, like maybe back in the Seventies? I can see it in my head but I wonder if I manufactured that memory.

As a kid in the early 1970's living in Chicagoland, we used to drive into the city on the Eisenhower. I don't remember a Lemonheads sign, but I am positive there was a highly visible "Ferrara Pan Candy Company" sign along that route. (And the Magikist lips were really cool, especially when lit up at night. Plus, then you got to drive under the Post Office!!)

.
posted by UhOhChongo! at 3:47 PM on February 8

I recommend the factory store. It's not highly visible, but there's a door on the southeast corner of the building, next to the worker's entrance. If you like your candy super fresh.

.
posted by readery at 4:04 PM on February 8

.

Makes me think of my old friend's dad, who when we were kids got a reputation by always having a pocket full of Atomic Fireballs and Lemonheads.
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:23 PM on February 8

As a kid in the early 1970's living in Chicagoland, we used to drive into the city on the Eisenhower. I don't remember a Lemonheads sign, but I am positive there was a highly visible "Ferrara Pan Candy Company" sign along that route. (And the Magikist lips were really cool, especially when lit up at night. Plus, then you got to drive under the Post Office!!)

There is still a sign off the Eisenhower, but I don't know if it is the same one.

Skip to 1:57 to see the actual "pans" making Lemonheads. http://youtu.be/1QS1d9ktRdQ

B-Roll (and the sign): http://youtu.be/_EQyWW14dak

Ridiculous: http://youtu.be/wSHc5zIddgY
posted by gjc at 4:28 PM on February 8

If you like your candy super fresh.

My wife and I discuss this all the time. I generally win the argument when I bring up another, basically all sugar candy, Peeps. Much better if aged in cask. They should also be exposed to air for a few hours before consumption. Some factory candy is just better with a little shelf life it can point to.
posted by Toekneesan at 5:45 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Wow. I owe this guy for a lot of my childhood... My brothers and I would blow our allowance on penny candy every few weeks or so, and most of it was from him. Never knew that until now. Farewell, good sir, you will be missed.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:00 PM on February 8

What?! Damn!

When my mom was a little girl, her dad owned a candy store. Mom developed a sweet tooth, and passed it on to me, and we both love Ferrara Pan candy.
posted by Relay at 7:36 PM on February 8

.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:58 PM on February 8

I have to thank him for the gift, the manna from heaven that are Lemondheads, a candy I began eating well before my first decade, and now, on the verge of entering my fourth, find that my love of them hasn't abated one iota.

.
posted by zardoz at 12:19 AM on February 9

My childhood summer days at the pool would not have been the same without Lemonheads, Boston Baked Beans, and all those other goodies; RIP

.
posted by TedW at 12:53 AM on February 9

Mr. Ferrara joined the family business, where he developed Lemonheads in 1962. He joked he came up with the idea because his son was born with a head shaped like a lemon.

Instead of life giving Mr. Ferrara lemons for him to make lemonade, life gave Mr. Ferrara a lemon headed child for him to make Lemonheads.
posted by lstanley at 6:20 AM on February 9 [2 favorites]

He joked he came up with the idea because his son was born with a head shaped like a lemon.

When I read that I immediately thought of this guy.
posted by TedW at 6:54 PM on February 9